Tip Plasty With Cartilage

INFORMATION

Nasal Tip is a part of the nose and gives much character. The reason to perform a “Tip plasty” is to change the shape of the nasal tip. Commonly, a person who wants to do Tip plasty is to change a nasal tip as it is wide, boxy, bulbous, or narrow and some concern to increase, especially in Asian type.

Other procedures may be performed at the time a nasal tip is addressed during Tip Plasty such as procedures include addressing the width, height, and length of the nose. Tip Plasty can also be performed to improve breathing (e.g. septoplasty, turbinate reduction, spreader grafts).

This procedure is performed with local anesthesia.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the differences between a Closed Rhinoplasty and Open Rhinoplasty?

Closed Rhinoplasty

Open Rhinoplasty

Closed Rhinoplasty refers to a nose job that is performed via internal incisions - i.e., there are no external scars. The surgeon makes one or more incisions along the inside of the nose and lifts the skin up from the nasal framework. Once the skin is elevated, the shape of the nose is changed.

Open Rhinoplasty, on the other hand, uses the same incisions as a closed rhinoplasty with the addition of an incision on the undersurface of the column of tissue that separates the nostrils called the columella. While this places a small scar on the exterior of the nose, in most cases, the incision heals very well and is not noticable at conversational distances. The incisions for the closed rhinoplasty are completely identical to the open with the exception of the incision across the columella.

Advantages:
• Potentially shorter operative time
• Less swelling of the tip
• No external scar

A closed rhinoplasty is where only the cuts inside the nose are made. This was originally developed to be used to fix broken noses, where more refined work on the tip is not usually carried out. If you think your tip is absolutely fine, the closed approach might be right for you.

This 6 mm incision allows the surgeon to peel the skin of the lower nose back to fully visualize the tip and dorsum of the nose. In the closed procedure, there is not as much visualization since the skin is not peeled back.

A closed rhinoplasty is usually for minor reshaping.

This approach is used for any rhinoplasty that needs extensive tip or dorsal work.

Open rhinoplasty is good for a second or third revision whereby extensive scar tissue and cartilage grafting techniques are necessary, and external exposure is needed. A simple primary reduction rhinoplasty is best done closed.

Our plastic surgeon will assess the structure of your nose and profile of your face before he can decide if a closed or open rhinoplasty is suitable for you. Most patients undergone closed rhinoplasty with us.

RECOVERY TIME

Use a Q-tip dipped with sterile water to first gently clean the sutures for a week until follow up visit on appointment date.

Dry clean with Q-tip.

Avoid any pressure on the nose. This also includes no eyeglasses and no sunglasses until cleared by your surgeon.

Sleep with the head elevated 20-30 degrees to avoid accidentally turning over on your nose.

*A slight amount of bleeding and/or oozing is normal during the first 2-3 days.

Do NOT blow your nose. If you sneeze, open your mouth to divert the airflow away from the nose.

Begin taking the medication as directed.

Call us or email in the meantime if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Follow-up appointment by surgeon will be appointed after surgery and mostly within 5 days.